Director, Stakeholder Engagement South Region
Austin, TX, US, 78701
RWE Americas, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent
Functional area: Sustainability / Corporate Social Responsibility; Regulation / Risk Management
Remuneration: Exempt
The Director, Stakeholder Engagement will lead the strategy, execution, and management of stakeholder & community engagement activities in the South Region (Texas, Plains and Southeast states) that identify and mitigate social impacts and risk to enable license and social license to operate across RWE Americas’ portfolio of onshore wind, solar, battery energy storage system (BESS), and flex-gen projects. Manage two Stakeholder Engagement Managers as part of a regionally matrixed Corporate Affairs team, ensuring close collaboration and partnership with Development, Project Execution / Construction, Operations, and other relevant departments, leading to successful project permitting, favorable energy policies, and positive long-term relationships with local communities.
Role Responsibilities:
- Design and execute strategic social risk assessment and mitigation programs for all development, construction and operational projects (project lifecycle) in the South Region (Texas, Plains and Southeast states)
- Develop and execute stakeholder engagement plan to create and nurture long-term relationships in project communities (community members, landowners, local officials, NGOs, and other stakeholders) and secure RWE’s social license to operate through the project lifecycle
- Utilize CRM to track interactions with local stakeholders, record grievances and commitments, ; coordinate communications internally; ensure continuity of relationships across project lifecycle; and identify trends, risks, and supporters through centralized data
- Manage two Stakeholder Engagement Managers, coordinating close partnerships with the Development, Operations, Project Execution, Communications, Government Affairs, and other relevant teams
- Monitor local sentiment, identify emerging issues, and escalate risks to Corporate Affairs and project leadership as needed
- Support proactive problem-solving to maintain community trust and minimize project delays
- Work closely with Development, Permitting, Operations, and Corporate Affairs teams to provide localized insights and engagement strategies and ensure necessary budgets and resources are secured to mitigate risks
- Provide regular updates, reports, and insights to internal stakeholders to inform decision-making
- Create strategic frameworks to guide team in identifying, evaluating, and directing external consultants in promoting the Company’s projects, negotiate contracts, and ensure compliance with all RWE policies and performance standards
- Coordinate coalition building and strengthen relationships with strategic non-profit organizations, associations, and other national or regional partners who support renewable and flex-gen energy siting
- Manage community benefit initiatives from early‑stage contributions to long‑term Community Benefit Agreements and partnerships
- Work closely with Stakeholder Engagement Team and Senior Director on cross-team initiatives to create, implement and improve team workflows, processes, tools and practices
- Track and report on social performance metrics when required
Job Requirements and Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, political science or other relevant areas
- Minimum 7-10 years of community engagement, campaign and advocacy experience for energy-related projects, campaign or community organizing, social risk and impact management
- Previous management experience and collaboration with multiple internal and external stakeholders, including for projects requiring navigation of complex community engagement issues
- Experience working in renewable energy or infrastructure development, rural communities, community development, environmental management, organizing, or local government a plus
- Knowledge of the structure and function of US, state, regional and local government including experience with renewable energy permitting and regulatory issues is preferred
- Demonstrated ability to work with teams across multiple locations and collaborate effectively to achieve business outcomes
- Strong leadership and communication skills and proven ability to meet deadlines
- Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and deliverables, while working independently and managing direct reports as part of an integrated regional delivery team
- Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities
- Proven ability to achieve deliverables amid ambiguity and provide direct and transparent feedback to peers and leadership
- Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
- Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations
- Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships
- Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the energy space
- Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Teams
- Proficiency in Salesforce preferred
- Responds well to direction, is easy to challenge and develop, and is coachable
- Detail-oriented, strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.
Apply with just a few clicks: ad code 93172
Any questions? Contact HR: rwe_americas_recruiting@rwe.com
We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.
RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects, along with natural gas-powered generation, that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. This is complemented by RWE’s energy trading business. RWE is also a major offtaker of American liquified natural gas (LNG). Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.
At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors - Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.
Nearest Major Market: Austin
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